Giants' rally falls short as Dodgers snap losing streak

Los Angeles Dodgers' Yasiel Puig, right, is tagged by San Francisco Giants catcher Nick Hundley after striking out during the first inning in San Francisco, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
September 12, 2017

PRESS DEMOCRAT NEWS SERVICES, PRESS DEMOCRAT NEWS SERVICES

SAN FRANCISCO — Clayton Kershaw pitched NL-leading Los Angeles to its first win in nearly two weeks, helping the Dodgers snap the club’s worst skid since moving West at 11 games by beating the San Francisco Giants 5-3 on Tuesday night.

The Dodgers’ losing streak was their worst in 25 years, topping a pair of 10-gamers in L.A. from 1961 and ‘92. The 1944 Brooklyn team lost 16 games in a row.

Kershaw (17-3) took a share of the major league wins lead with Milwaukee’s Zach Davies.

Kenley Jansen recorded the final four outs for his 37th save but surrendered three consecutive singles with one out in the ninth to face a bases-loaded jam. He struck out Buster Posey and Nick Hundley to end it. Catcher Yasmani Grandal pumped his right fist and Jansen pounded his chest as the Dodgers hustled out of their dugout.

Justin Turner hit a key RBI double in the eighth and Chase Utley homered leading off the fourth, splashing into the water of McCovey Cove beyond the right-field wall for the first time in his career — the 41st ever by an opposing hitter.

Neither team took batting practice on the field after playing past 2 a.m. because of two delays for lightning and rain Monday.

FREE PASSES

Bellinger was intentionally walked three times in all, making him the first Dodgers player to do so since Jose Hernandez on June 4, 2004, against Arizona.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: Los Angeles didn’t hold batting practice after the long game, so LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu threw a 48-pitch bullpen session rather than a simulated game. He had his turn skipped this series to give him a break but will start Sunday’s series finale at Washington. ... OF Andre Ethier, who returned Sept. 1 after sitting out all season with a herniated disc in his back, is scheduled to start Friday against the Nationals. Manager Dave Roberts wants to see how Ethier holds up in a full game, “keep him going and see what we have.”

Giants: Closer Mark Melancon, who joined the Giants in the offseason on a $62 million, four-year contract, had season-ending pronator surgery to solve his forearm injury. The rehab timeline is expected to be 6 to 8 weeks, having him recovered in plenty of time to be prepared for spring training. He went 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA and 11 saves in 32 appearances and 30 innings this season.

TEAM RELEASES SCHEDULE FOR 2018 SEASON

The Giants are set to start the 2018 schedule with a series at the rival Dodgers that begins March 29 and San Francisco will have its home opener April 3 against the Mariners, the team announced Tuesday.

The Giants face the AL West in interleague play — including a six-game, home-and-home series with the A’s buffering both sides of the All-Star break (July 13-15 and July 20-22).

For the ninth year in a row, the Giants will start the season on the road — reportedly by choice. And rather than the one three-city trip taken by San Francisco this year, the team will have five such journeys next season.

The first such journey comes April 12-22 against the Padres, Diamondbacks and Angels. The Giants play at the Braves, Phillies and Pirates consecutively (May 4-13) and the Astros, Cubs and Rockies (May 22-30).